The meaning of the name “Eric” is different in several languages, countries and cultures and has more than one possibly same or different meanings available.
Additional information: Eric can be alternately spelled as Erik or Erick, with each spelling being more popular in different parts of the world. It came from the Old Norse name Eirikr, a compound name composed of the elements ei (ever, always) and rikr (ruler), which can be translated to roughly mean "one ruler, eternal ruler, or ever powerful". The origin of the name is debated. Most believe in the Norse etymology, but there are some who think it comes to the Old Norse via the Germanic ehre (honor) and the Proto-Germanic rik (king), hence "honorable ruler". This name has been used for many men in royalty over the years in Britain as well as in the Scandinavian countries, but the most well-known usage was for Eric the Red, the Viking explorer who is credited with discovering Greenland.
As mentioned above, there are two alternative ways to spell Eric that are very popular: Erik and Erick. Other variants and non-English spellings include Aric, Eerik, Eirik, Erico, and Eryk. Some common nicknames for Eric can be Eero and Rico. There is also a feminine form of this name, which can be Erica or Erika.
Popularity for the name Eric was high in 2014 in some countries, such as Spain where it was ranked 31st most popular and Catalonia where it was ranked the 5th most popular, but in other countries, the name did not perform well. It peaked in usage in 2011-12 in Catalonia at 3rd most popular, as well as in 1973-76 in the US where it was ranked as the 13th most popular boy's name. In 2014, the rank was much lower in this and other English-speaking countries, with the ranking standing at 123rd in the US, 189th in England and Wales, and 86th in Canada.
Famous people and celebrities who share the name Eric include Eric Kramer, an actor; Eric Clapton, a musician; Eric Church, a singer; Eric Decker, an NFL player; Eric Bana, an actor; Eric Gordon, a basketball player; and Eric Hosmer, a baseball player. In Disney's Little Mermaid, Eric was the prince whom Ariel fell in love with.
The first thing you should know if you are considering Eric for your baby's name is that in most countries all over the world the name Eric is a boy name.
The name Eric is of Germanic, Norse origins, which means it has more than one root, and is used in more than one countries and different languages of the world, especially English speaking countries, French speaking countries among others.
If you consider naming your baby Eric we recommend you take note of the special meaning and history of the name as your baby’s name will play a big role in its life and your baby will hear it spoken every day. Searching for a name is a very important and fun process as it’s the very first gift you will give to your baby. Many people believe that the name can affect success in life, through their children's working career and other circumstances, so they choose more “respectable” names or name meanings as they believe that the name meaning reflects the personality of the child.
Eric Name Meaning
The meaning of Eric has more than one different etymologies. It has same or different meanings in other countries and languages. The different meanings of the name Eric are:
American meaning: Eternal ruler
French meaning: Eternal ruler
German meaning: Derivative: Form of Frederick
Old Norse meaning: Honorable ruler
Keep in mind that many names may have different meanings in other countries and languages, so be careful that the name that you choose doesn’t mean something bad or unpleasant. Search comprehensively and find the name meaning of Eric and its name origin or of any other name in our database. Also note the spelling and the pronunciation of the name Eric and check the initials of the name with your last name to discover how it looks and sounds. The history and meaning of the name Eric is fascinating, learn more about it. (If you know more meanings of the name and you would like to contribute click here to submit another name meaning).
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Name Eric Categories
The name Eric is in the following categories: Disney Names, English Names, French Names, Old English Names, Twilight Names. (If you would like to suggest one or more categories for the name, click here). We have plenty of different baby name categories to search for special meanings plus popular and unique names, search our database before choosing but also note that baby name categories designed to help you and not to be an influential factor when choosing a name. Instead, we recommend that you pay a greater attention to the origin and meaning of the name Eric. Read our baby name articles for useful tips regarding baby names and naming your baby. If you are thinking of giving your baby the beautiful name Eric, spread the love and share this with your friends.
Popularity of the Name Eric
Below you will find the popularity of the baby name Eric displayed annually, from 1880 to the present day in our name popularity chart. Hover over or click on the dots that represent a year to see how many babies were given the name for that year, for both genders, if available.
Eric Boy Name Popularity Chart
Eric Girl Name Popularity Chart
Note:The data above is from the Social Security Administrator of United States, (more info here) from Social Security card applications for births in US for every name, from 1880 up to the present year. The gender associated with the name might be incorrect, as the data presents the record applications without being edited for errors. The name's popularity and ranking is announced annually, so the data for this year will not be available until next year. The more babies that are given a name, the higher popularity ranking the name receives. For names with the same popularity, the tie is solved by assigning popularity rank in alphabetical order. This means that if two or more names have the same popularity their rankings may differ significantly, as they are set in alphabetical order. If a name has less than five occurrences, the SSA excludes it from the provided data to protect privacy.
Songs and Videos about the name Eric:
Some songs that include the name Eric in the lyrics or the title include A Song for Eric by Tori Amos, Eric’s Song by 12 Stones, and Eric’s Song by Vienna Teng.
If you’re not sure yet, see our wide selection of both boy names and girl names all over the world to find the ideal name for your new born baby. We offer a comprehensive and meaningful list of popular names and cool names along with the name's origin, meaning, pronunciation, popularity and additional information.
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Do your research and choose a name wisely, kindly and selflessly.
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